Title win 'one of the best feelings I've ever had' - but Mikel Arteta missed Arsenal's winning moment due to BBQ as Man City drew with Bournemouth

The Gunners were crowned champions for the first time in 22 years following Manchester City’s draw with Bournemouth on Tuesday evening.

A number of Arsenal players watched the match at the club’s training ground and celebrated together afterwards long into the night.

Arsenal manager Arteta did not join the celebrations at the training ground and only linked up with the team later in the evening.

”It’s one of the best feelings I've ever had,” he said about winning the title.

”I was supposed to be here, at Colney, watching the game with the boys and the staff, because that’s what they wanted, but I couldn’t.

”Before the game, I had to leave. I couldn’t bring the energy that I wanted and I think it was the moment as well to watch it together, to be themselves and just see what the outcome would be. 

”I went home, I went outside to the garden, I started to build some fire and I started to do some barbecue, I didn’t watch any of it. I was just hearing some noises in the background, in the living room and suddenly the magic happened. 

”My oldest son opened the garden door, he started to run towards me, he started to cry, he gave me a hug and said 'we are champions, daddy.' Then my other two boys and my wife came over and it was beautiful. 

”Just to see that joy on them as well, that they are always with me, it was magical. A minute later, Martin [Odegaard] was on the video, 'where are you?' he said, 'come over,' I said guys enjoy it for a while and see you in a few hours somewhere in London.”

Some Arsenal players went from the training ground to Emirates Stadium, where fans joined them in celebrating in the early hours of Wednesday morning.

Arteta says he has no regrets about missing out on part of the celebrations.

”It was their moment, and they had to be themselves in that moment, and if I’m there, I think it wouldn’t be the same,” said Arteta.

”I’m glad they did it that way, they enjoyed it so much and the staff were all over the place and we had our moment together a few hours later.”

Arteta also revealed how a meeting around a tree at the training ground helped to instil belief in the squad during the season.

He said: ”I brought all the players together and I told them: 'Look at each other, look at the squad that we built over the summer, we are capable of everything and we can be very, very good. But it only depends on us and our behaviours and everybody understanding the role that it’s going to have daily or on the day to give the best for the team.' 

”Once they realised that, I think we went to a different level because you see the impact everyone has had on different games.”

Arsenal’s title win was helped by a childhood friend of Arteta’s: Bournemouth boss Andoni Iraola.

Arteta and Iraola played youth football together having grown up in the same area in northern Spain.

The Arsenal coach said he had spoken to Iraola, whose side looked as though they might impact the title race in a different way when they won at the Emirates in April.

”I called him yesterday, first of all to congratulate him for the incredible job that he’s done with Bournemouth,” Arteta said. ”Obviously, I said, you almost took the Premier League away from us and now you helped us to win it.

”So a quick call to say thank you, as well to show my admiration towards him and wishing the best in the next chapter of his career, which I’m sure is going to be very, very successful.”

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